12 Best Corduroy Pants | The Strategist - New York Magazine

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

A good pair of cords is not only a cozier alternative to denim but also a much cooler-looking one. But not all corduroy is created equally, and finding your dream corduroy pants depends on a few factors. The fabric often dictates the silhouette (especially for pants) and according to Austen Tosone, beauty and fashion content creator at Keep Calm and Chiffon, this is something to think about first and foremost. If your pants are 100 percent cotton, you'll be dealing with something stiffer — "more of a tailored trousers vibe." Ann Caruso, a fashion stylist and Vogue contributor warns that more tailored, stiff, 100 percent cotton pants with less stretch are "prone to shrinking."

Meanwhile, adding in a touch of spandex or elastane will lead to a stretchier (but less formal-looking) pair of pants. The weight of the corduroy wale (the name for the ribs running through the fabric) is also worth considering. To help you on your quest for corduroy, we asked 16 cool people — including stylists, designers, and corduroy-obsessed Strategist staffers — where they found their favorite corduroys, from soft and stretchy pull-ons to luxury but slouchy tailoring.

Strategist-favorite brand Everlane offers several corduroy options, but this wide-leg pair was particularly popular with our experts. Tyla-Lauren Gilmore, a digital content creator, loves them for their high-rise cut and comfort factor, and Elizabeth DuBois, strategic account manager at Justworks, bought them after what she tells us was a long hunt for the perfect pair. "I couldn't really find any corduroy pants anywhere, which I find bizarre," she says. Finally, she landed on these and loves them. "Cords are such a classic, and I feel a bit dressier when I wear this style," DuBois says. This wide-leg pair comes in three different colors — black, canvas, and brown (or "toasted coconut," to be specific) — and goes up to a size 16. The inseam is just 28.5 inches, so if you're on the taller side, check out this pair that has a 31-inch inseam.

"I am looking forward to embracing plus-size corduroy pants this fall," says petite-plus influencer Natalie Craig. But the pursuit of the perfect fit isn't always easy for Craig. She explains that being five-foot-two and a size 20 means finding pants can be a challenge, "especially trendy ones, like corduroy." But for Craig, Lane Bryant has pretty much solved that problem with these cords in transitional shades like maroon, green, and brown. Finding the right fit is made easier with multiple inseam options and sizing from 12 to 28.

Former Strategist writer Chloe Anello, recommends these straight-leg, full-length J.Crew corduroys. "My high school had a strict "no denim" policy, so corduroy pants became a standard in my wardrobe," she explains. "I owned a handful of pairs of these from J.Crew — and years later, I still wear them. They're slim cut and fit well, yet don't feel bulky or heavy on." They come in eight colors including neutrals like black, gray, and cream, as well as jazzier shades like bright green and raspberry pink. There are three inseam options (classic, petite, and tall), they go up to a size 37, and they're all currently on sale for under $100.

These Free People flares are a pull-on style that prioritizes comfort — a rarity with cords — and a true favorite for Janie Medley of Medley Style. Though they're stretchy, Medley promises the fit is still perfect. "I'm in heaven," she says. They've stood the test of time — she's worn the style for a few years now — and says she continues to get compliments on them. They come in five different colors, including black, lime green, garnet red, lilac, and a yellow-orange tone called Haycroft. "I've purchased two pairs for 2023, and I'm so excited to style them," she mentions. "They are perfect paired with a blazer and turtleneck or with a statement leather jacket."

Photo: Retailer

For those looking for wide-leg cords, these are one of the most voluminous pairs that came recommended to us. Jonne Amaya, a sustainable fine jeweler, appreciates the "high-waisted structure cut with muted tones" of these "soft birch" colored pants — but if you want something a bit more vibrant, they also come in navy and dark gray. Because they are so wide-legged, Amaya suggests choosing something that's "very light on top" to balance it out. And while there are definitely cheaper options out there, Amaya concedes, she tries to "buy less, but buy better-quality items."

"Corduroy or not, I'm a major fan of the Levi's Baggy Dad silhouette," says Chong. "It's just so relaxed; it adds a cool and effortless look to any outfit. The corduroy version — which I first saw on none other than Emma Chamberlain — is great because it feels just slightly dressier than my go-to denim. Perfect for fall, in my opinion."

She loves that these pants have such an easy-to-style shape, and as temperatures start to dip, Chong expects to pair them with a loose button-down "for that I-just-threw-this-on vibe." For cold temperatures, she's wearing them "with an oversize sweater or a cropped turtleneck and New Balance 9060s."

Brooklyn-based illustrator Laura Supnik's longtime favorite brand for corduroy trousers is TOAST. While she previously opted for the brand's more tapered, tailored cord, these days she's into the Gabi, which offers a more relaxed, comfy style. "Corduroy is a heavier fabric, so looser is better in my opinion," she explains. "They're meant to be cozy and warm, not tight and unbreathable." Supnik also appreciates Toast's ethical practices: "They put a lot of thought and care into each of their pieces, which is a big deciding factor for me when it comes to shopping," she says. Plus, she notes that they're "extremely well crafted," so you're sure to have them for years.

Medley is also into these wide-leg cords, sharing that she loves a wide-leg silhouette, and thinks they're great value for the price. "And the color mink is such a statement color for the fall and winter," she adds. To Medley, they're the perfect farmers' market pants — she's looking forward to styling them with a "turtleneck and leather jacket, and with a pair of cute booties!" She points out that there's also a cropped version, which comes in eight colors and four different inseam lengths.

The only corduroys curve model Bella Golden is interested in are "conversation starters." That means she often shops in thrift stores and small businesses for something special. Her "cutest" cords came courtesy of Lisa Says Gah; medium wale with adorable butterfly detailing on the back pockets, which you'll be lucky to thrift on eBay or Depop. But, if you can't get your hands on a pair of those, Golden recommends these slightly dressier, wide-leg Good American pants, which she says she'll be buying ASAP. "I love their available size range, and the flare on these looks so cute and comfy!"

"Over the summer, I found a pair of dirt-brown '90s Gap corduroys at (where else?) a dusty junk store run by a cowboy in Wyoming. (A cowboy asked me if I was there shopping for Kanye.) Those corduroys immediately became my favorite pair," tells Mallory Rice, freelance writer and editor. And while hers may be one of a kind, she says these pleated Noah ones are just as good. "The shade of brown is so deep and rich, more 'cozy British holiday velvet' than 'English teacher hand-me-downs,'" explains Rice. These are technically men's pants, but Noah provides a size chart on its site so you can figure out what size will fit you best. They also come in gray and black, and Noah offers a thin wale corduroy pant in a handful of unexpected colors, like bright blue.

Haleigh Rosa, disability activist and Yough co-founder loves this high-rise pair with a concealed zipper, by STAUD. "Being as I use a wheelchair, I personally look for a high-waisted pant that's long enough for sitting," Rosa explains. "Her pants always fit me so well," she says of the label's co-founder Sarah Staudinger. She's also sold on the flare "which gives a quintessential '70's look," and the deep navy hue, in her words "a solid neutral color." Rosa says she'd pair these "casually, with a white T-shirt or vintage graphic tee with some layered necklaces."

Charlotte Bickley, Daily Front Row editor-at-large and fashion content creator is careful to make sure her corduroys fit her petite five-foot-three frame perfectly. To do so, she recommends picking a brand whose pants you've already tried and know fit well. Many labels offer the same cut in both denim and corduroy, so it's worth checking your favorite denim cuts online as fall draws in. Charlotte prefers corduroy in muted neutrals like cream and brown "because you can really create monochromatic looks." So, these ultrahigh-rise '70s pants in light-camel fit the bill perfectly, available in sizes 23 to 34. Just make sure to size down as this cut runs large.

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